LOVE'S MASQUERADINGS.

Love never less surprises

Than when his tricks are tried ;

In vain are all disguises,

Himself he cannot hide.

He came, the Masquerader,

To conscious Kate one day,

Attempting to persuade her
He then was-far away !
'Ah, Love!' she cried, unfearing,
'Take any shape you will,
Strange, distant, or endearing,

This heart would know you still.'

Then Love came clad like sorrow;
His robe was dark as night;
But like a golden morrow,

Flash'd forth his forehead's light;
She knew him, as with languor
He played the wounded dove:
Then fierce he frowned-'twas anger!
But still she knew 'twas Love!

Then came he wreathed like Pleasure;
In vain he cried, 'Rejoice!'
And sang a laughing measure—
She knew him by his voice.
He turned his tongue to railing,
Performing Envy's task;

His scowl was unavailing,

She saw him-through his mask.

Like cloak'd Revenge then stealing,
With poniard bare he came,
His limbs, his looks, concealing-
Yet still he seem'd the same.
Then he, his thoughts dissembling,
With Jealousy's wild air

Stood raging, watching, trembling-
Yet Love alone stood there.

Next came he garbed like Malice ;
Yet wore his cheek the rose,
No poison crowns his chalice,
With wine it overflows.
And then as Joy, arrayed in

Rare colours from above!
He failed again—the maiden
In Joy saw only Love!

Then casting off his splendour,
He took black Hatred's guise;
But all his tones were tender,

She knew him-by his eyes.

In all he fail'd; when glancing
Like Fear, afraid to stir ;

And when like Hope, half dancing-
For Hope was Love to her.
'In vain,' she cried, 'your powers,
Take any shape you may;
Are hearts less wise than flowers,
That know the night from day?'

1842.

TWO OF A TRADE. 1

With such a dear companion at my side.'-WORDSWORTH.

OH! marvellous Boy, what marvel when

I met thy Dog and thee,

I marvell'd if to dogs or men

You traced your ancestry!

If changed from what you once were known,

As sorrow turns to joy,

The Boy more like the Dog had grown,
The Dog more like the Boy.

It would a prophet's eyesight baulk,
To see through time's dark fog,
If on four legs the Boy will walk,
Or if on two the Dog.

O pair! what were ye both at first?
The one a feeble pup;

A babe the other, fondly nursed

How have ye been brought up?

Written to Cruikshank's drawing of 'The Butcher Boy and his Dog' in 'The Omnibus.'

O Boy! and wert thou once a child,
A cherub small and soft,

On whom two human beings smiled,
And prayed for, oft and oft?

A creature rosy, plump, and fair,
Half meekness and half joy;
A wingless angel with light hair!
Oh! wert thou, Butcher-boy?

A thing more gentle, laughing, light,
More blithe, more full of play,
Than e'er he was—that luckless wight !
The lamb you stuck to-day?

And thou, O Dog, with deep-set eyes, Wert thou, like Love, once blind : With helpless limbs of pigmy size,

And voice that scarcely whined?

How grew your legs so like to his,
Your growl so like his tone?
And when did he first see your phiz

Reflected in his own?

Bravely have both your likeness worn ;

Alike, without, within ;

Brethren ye are, and each was born,

Like Happiness, 'a twin!